EPOSSCIGOV · From Barataria to Utopia: Economic-Positivism, Scientific Governance, and Colonial Discourses of International Order, 1880-1940

From Barataria to Utopia: Economic-Positivism, Scientific Governance, and Colonial Discourses of International Order, 1880-1940

EPOSSCIGOV set out to investigate the rise of specific practices of ‘scientific’ colonial governance in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, how they were informed by hitherto unexplored economic-positivist legal theory gaining currency in British and Australian colonies, and ultimately how, because of this new legal theoretical context, the League of Nations mandate system proved especially receptive to transfers from ‘scientifically’ governed colonies to broader discourses of international order. Despite the severe limitations imposed on the project because of the COVID-19 pandemic, EPOSSCIGOV proved the concept that a novel methodology in new imperial scholarship reassembling the archive of British and Australian colonial and mandate administrations is a viable and valuable research methodology. It remains the first dedicated study of the practice of economic-positivism in European colonial governance, and important findings through the limited time available to consult archives in the face of COVID-19 lockdowns and closures demonstrated clearly the merit of such an investigation. Through pursuing these objectives, EPOSSCIGOV contributed to bringing a new legal approach to established imperial historiographies that consider the histories of late 19th and early 20th century colonialism more broadly. And, building on aspects of exciting recent work on the international dimensions of European colonialism, EPOSSCIGOV was the first dedicated examination of Oppenheim’s economic-positivism in historical context, contributing greatly to advancing the ‘historical turn’ in scholarship on the jurispractice of legal positivism. Overall, this MSCA, though significantly hamstrung by COIVD-19, has allowed the fellow to deliver on conceptualizing and further refining a project design that is recognized as beyond the state of the art, and has allowed the fellow the opportunity to progress the fellow’s own career development. EPOSSCIGOV succeeded in developing the fellow’s historical knowledge and interdisciplinary research and project management skills through mentorship by the project supervisor, Alan Lester. And while COVID-19 prevented implementation of formal networking, interdisciplinary communication, and event leadership skills, it still afforded the fellow a chance to conceive of these linkages, which the fellow will pursue fully as lockdowns are eased slowly across the world in many research communities relevant to this project.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union